High School Football: Lansdale Catholic ready for playoff ball

WHITEMARSH — Tom Kirk knows his Lansdale Catholic High football team is not exactly the easiest to figure.

“We have to be the most unpredictable team around,” the first-year Crusaders head coach laughed.

Believe it, folks, this was a team that had the local scribes scratching their collective heads after beginning the year with four straight wins.

Then, no sooner had those doubters finally admitted that this could be one of the area’s top teams, LC turned around and lost four in a row.

So naturally, in last week’s regular-season closer against a very good Cardinal O’Hara team, that losing streak would reach five, right?

Well, no. Instead, LC ignored an early 21-0 deficit and rallied to beat the Lions.

So, now, on the cusp of the team’s first Philadelphia Catholic League playoff game in three seasons, is anyone prepared to put the mortgage money on the Crusaders earning the program’s first-ever PCL playoff win in their fifth year in the league?

Will the Crusaders (5-4) break out Jekyll or Hyde on Saturday (3:30) at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School when they meet Bonner-Prendergast (3-5) in the opening round of the PCL Class AAA playoffs?

Those questions, and more, will be answered.

“I have to believe you’re going to see some good games this weekend,” Kirk said.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Bonner-Prendie head coach Greg “Bubba” Bernhardt, “but (LC) is playing some of their best football right now, so we’re going to have to play better than we did the first time or we’ll be watching from the stands next week.”

Ah yes, the first time these two clubs met, the Friars emerged with a 29-8 win. But the coaches agreed the score gave no indication of the flow of the game.

“It was a good game the last time,” Bernhardt said. “It was close in the fourth quarter and we were able to score three times late to win the game.”

“It was a five-point game with about six-or-seven minutes left in the fourth quarter,” Kirk recalled, “but neither of us played our best game.”

In that game, the Friars were playing for the first time without quarterback Jim Haley, a returning PCL co-MVP who’s endured an injury-plagued senior season that’s included bouts with a concussion and both ankle and shoulder ailments. In that game, B-P went with back-up Collin DiGalbo, who since has proven to be more than a capable replacement. Since that trial by fire, DiGalbo has compiled 954 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns, including a 332-yard passing performance last week against Archbishop Wood.

“When we first played (LC), we weren’t sure what we could and couldn’t do with Collin as our quarterback,” Bernhardt said, “but now that he’s been playing a while, we’ve discovered how well he can throw the ball and how well he’s gotten used to running our offense.”

“They put up 35 points on Wood, and nobody does that,” Kirk said. “And that was without Haley, which shows how well coached they are.

“Their offense is balanced. They’re able to run the ball when they need to or throw when they need to.”

DiGalbo has had a lot to do with the passing game, while Joe DePhillipo (104 carries, 570 yds.) has emerged as the go-to back.

“Plus,” Bernhardt added, “our offensive line has really stepped up.”

It’s an offensive line, Kirk understands, that holds a distinct size advantage over the Crusaders.

“We just don’t have that kind of size at LC,” Kirk said, “but we’ll never use that as an excuse. When you first face a team like Bonner or Wood or Ryan that has so much size, it can be intimidating. But you still have to block and tackle.

“And realistically, if we’re not used to it by game 10, we’ll never be used to it.”

And even with their uncertain quarterback situation, the Friars are averaging nearly 27 points a game.

And it’s that explosiveness that Kirk wants to neutralize on Saturday.

“Our goal all year has been to be in a position to win in the fourth quarter,” the coach said. “And that’s what we’d like to do, keep it close and see what happens in the fourth.

“If this game turns into two teams trading touchdowns, we won’t have much of a chance. We have to avoid turnovers and limit their big plays.”

Ideally, LC would like to control the ball and the clock with running backs James Ward (65 carries, 411 yds., 14 catches, 268 yds.) and Mike Iacono (56 carries, 330 yds.) or put the ball in the hands of quarterback Patrick Duggan (57-for-122, 903 yds.), who threw for four scores last week.

Bonner-Prendie would like to get its big-play offense in gear, although Bernhardt knows that won’t be easy.

“That’s a very good defense they have over there,” Bernhardt said. “The first time we thought we could run the ball and we did OK. But that’s a well-coached team.”

As these things usually shake out, it will come down to which club carries out its game plan best.

But just don’t try and predict the outcome.

“Our guys are excited, they’re not intimidated,” Kirk said. “As for (the program’s) first (PCL) playoff win, I don’t think that’s what our guys are thinking about. I just think they’re thinking that they don’t want their season to end.”